Thank you for having invited me to join all of you here gathered today in this momentous occasion, to confer degrees upon our laudable graduates, and to pay tribute to them and their proud and equally laudable parents, relatives and loved ones.

The magnificent sight of our graduates’ processional march down the aisle—their parents or relatives by their side—is truly heartwarming and inspiring, evoking, as it does, the triumph of the human spirit.

“Drastic action against Pinoys in Sabah could spark another standoff similar to what happened in 2013.“

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. today condemned the use of lethal force by Malaysian authorities against Filipino undocumented aliens which led to the deaths of three Filipino teenagers in Sabah.

The senator also put to task Philippine diplomatic officials stationed in Malaysia, saying that the safety and security of Filipinos caught in the swift immigration operation should be of utmost priority. Bongbong will be asking diplomatic officials to provide the senate a thorough report on the circumstances behind the deaths of the Filipino teenagers, instead of just merely be arrested.

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government today says he intends to resume hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), three weeks from snow or April 13, after the Holy week.

Marcos announced the resumption of the hearings after he received a copy of the investigation report today of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the Mamasapano massacre. The report was coursed thru the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and its cover letter was signed by no less than BTC chairman Mohagher Iqbal.

“I respectfully submit herewith a copy of the full report of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) investigation on the Mamasapano incident, in rsponse to your request for said transmittal in your letter dated 9 March 2015”, Iqbal was quoted in his letter.

He was a leader at the forefront of Asia’s resurgence; a great visionary whose commitment to transforming one island country from a colony to a global economic powerhouse gave us the Singapore we know today.

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday reminded the Aquino administration that it should prioritize arresting and jailing the men responsible for the deaths of the 44 policemen during the botched Mamasapano operation last January 25.

“The families of the victims want no less than swift justice. They are not asking for anything else, they are not hoping for other things than to see the culprits behind bars,” Marcos said in a statement.

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. has pushed for a measure giving barangay captains authority to swear in duly-elected Presidents of the Philippines.

Marcos, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, on Wednesday sponsored Senate Bill No. 2693, under Committee Report No. 115, which sought to give authority to Punong Barangays to administer the oath of office of any government officials, including the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

“Our Punong Barangay is one of the true representatives of the people, and at the frontline in delivering quality public service. It is therefore most significant and truly symbolic for Punong Barangays to be given the authority to administer the oath of office of any government official, including the President of the Philippines.”

Senators on Tuesday ordered the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to get a copy of the investigation report of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) regarding the Mamasapano incident.

This developed as they adopted Senate Resolution No. 1240, which Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had filed on Monday, expressing the sense of the Senate to direct the government peace panel to request from the MILF and the International Monitoring Team (IMT) a copy of the probe report.

The MILF conducted its own investigation on the January 25 bloody clash where 44 members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police were killed by the combined forces of MILF and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.